Lawmakers exit Congress, head to K Street

It’s that time of year again in Washington, when lawmakers who once ran for office calling for change inside the Beltway are heading straight to K Street.

Retiring Rep. Heath Shuler (D-N.C.) will join Duke Energy early next year as senior vice president of federal affairs. Rep. Jason Altmire, a Pennsylvania Democrat who lost his primary, is joining insurer Florida Blue as a government affairs executive. Rep. Geoff Davis (R-Ky.), who resigned July 31, will form a public affairs firm, Republic Consulting, with lobbyist Hunter Bates.

Headhunters are excited about several lawmakers who lost election bids this month or left, including Reps. Mary Bono Mack (R-Calif.) and Connie Mack (R-Fla.), former Sen. George Allen (R-Va.), Sen. Ben Nelson (D-Neb.) and Republican Puerto Rico Gov. Luis Fortuno.

Rep. Charles Gonzalez (D-Texas), who did not run for reelection, says he’s in the final running for a position at a San Antonio-based company that would have him overseeing government relations and public relations, among other things. But Washington is still a possibility, he told POLITICO. If the San Antonio position “doesn’t work, I’ll probably have to look in Washington,” he said.

This sort of revolving door was supposed to stop after a series of highly touted lobbying reforms in 2007, but while everyone is sure to follow the letter of the law, the path to K Street remains open.

Sure, there are some rules: Outgoing House members must wait one year until they may lobby their former colleagues. For departing senators, it’s two years, and violating the ban could lead to legal trouble. Former congressmen also don’t have House gym privileges.

But former members can still visit their ex-colleagues on the House floor, although they aren’t supposed to lobby while on the floor or carry on if they have a financial stake in a bill being considered.

And even after any waiting period is up, high-profile hires simply aren’t bothering to declare themselves as lobbyists anymore, using opaque titles such as “adviser” that could mean anything.

There is some backlash to the practice of finding a lucrative private-sector job while there are still big votes to be taken.

“Members of Congress should refrain from accepting employment at a firm until they have officially separated from Congress,” said Monte Ward, the newly elected president of the American League of Lobbyists. “Once they have completed the mandatory ‘cooling off’ period, we will welcome them to the profession.”

What do we expect? In Congress, they learned they can vacation most of the year at the expense of others (taxpayers), not do any real work at all while "on the job," and still get $174,000, a gold-plated health insurance plan, a fat expense account and lots of freebies and perks. In Congress, they hang out with lobbyists, party with lobbyists, fill their campaign coffers with lobbyist monies, submit legislation crafted by special interest lawyers and lobbyists, and used issue talking points provided by lobbyists. They then lose an election and take what little they've learned about the processes of Congress and lobbying to a firm that's willing to pay them as much or more than the overly generous taxpayers did for selling their allegiance to whatever that firm's CEO and board decide is in their firms best interests. What might seem too big a leap of faith for anyone to take, former members of Congress have no trouble doing it, for they had practice doing it in Congress: instead of being faithful to the taxpayers who paid their salaries, they sold out to the highest bidder, the ones who filled their campaign coffers to the tune of millions or tens of millions -- the lobbyists representing the rich and powerful special interests.

This reminds us why Republicans in Congress currently are holding out for unaffordable and fiscally irresponsible tax cuts for the richest; it is those people who fill the Republican campaign coffers. Republicans feel they owe them and are under obligation to them, if not exactly under contract to them (yet).

What a joke. The law should be changed to have all lawmakers wait 5-7 years before being allowed to lobby. Then, with their influence diminished, firms can hire them due to their expertise in the field, not to pull strings with old friends.

No wonder our government is for sale. Not only are lobbyists critical for raising re-elections funds, they provide lifetime high 6 figure employment after when Representatives and Senators loose or decide to cash in their chips and get rich.

If our Congressmen and Senators cared more about good government than good paychecks they would put a stop to the K street shuffle

Seriously your story says headhunters are excited about a number of people who lost their elections. I highly doubt anyone is banging down the door to get to Connie Mack, his wife or George Allen. That would seem to be a stretch. Senator Kyl or Senator Conrad yes. The others no way.

If you think reps ad dems are opposed to each other, that either side is for the "people", you are sadly mistaken. The two sides work together cause conflict and chaos in order to achieve a desired goal.

This is NOT necessarily improper or immoral. These legislators have knowledge and skills, and most have a skill that is valuable to their employer as well as the nation. However, it does open a door to corruption.

Previously a law was enacted that prohibited members of the military to be hired into a civilian job in the Dept of Def for two years after discharge, or working in a private firm that did business with the government in that same career field where they had worked in the military (i.e. a DoD contractor with a contract for the office where the person had worked while in uniform). Possibly a similar prohibition should be enacted for those serving in Congress.

Around the the early 1920's before Joseph Stalin was the leader of Russia he was a regional commander of red army forces fighting the whites (non-communists). He wasn't a very good army general and the commanders under him complained. So he agreed to meet them on a barge to hash out all their differences. When the last commander went into the barge the door was nailed shut behind him. The barge was towed out into the middle of the river and sunk.

When were any of these people servants? The moment you enter Washington you are taking people's money and giving it to others. Under both Obama and Bush the grow is astounding and we are becoming an Aristocracy...where the powerful throw crumbs to the little people. I read that Blackstone is buying $100 Million a month of homes. Next up is Blackrock city and KKR Town...as the connected take all the power. They get the free FED money, the unlimited Treasury guarantees and K Street makes it happen. Time to shrink the government and break up the crooked investment banks and private equity. No more guarantees for these crooks and no FED money. Government well meaning take over of housing is making it more unaffordable!

Lobbying is legalized bribery. It must be made illegal. Why should a lobbyist have access to a member of congress that I as an individual doesn't have. Just try to get an appointment with one of your senators or reps. Impossible. Money talks and we, the great unwashed, lose.

Of course they are going to K street. They are all out for themselves. There should be a law banning lobbying altogether. At the very least, there should be a 10 year waiting period before you can register as a lobbyist if you have served in public office at any level.

These *******s never have to worry about job security. They're effectively fired by voters for an unsatisfactory performance and get to slide right into higher paid private sector jobs. Why would they have an interest in insuring everyone else has job security and a way to bridge the gap while searching for work during a recession?

I just wish they would acknowledge that they aren't simple normal middle or working class folks - they have a advantages that the average American just dosen't. That doesn't mean there's anything wrong with that - they earned their power (mostly), but I am so tired of hearing how they're just like the rest of us (Romney's college "poverty" springs to mind). I want them to empathize with my situation but recognize that at this point they don't share it.